Elevated track or tramway



(No Model.)

W. P. WALLING. ELEVATED TRACK 0R TRAMWAY.

No. 477,718. Patented June 28,1892.

m: norms PETiNS cc, mormumm, mswmurau n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM P. \VALLING, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

ELEVATED TRACK OR TRAMWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,718, dated June 28, 1892.

' Application filed July 13.1891. Serial No. 399,376. (No model.)

f 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. WALLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Monica, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevated Tracks or Tramways; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked. thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of elevated wireways or tramways in which a car is run over a sta tionary wire or track by means of an endless rope passing around grip-pulleys and driven by an engine or other motive power.

The objects of my improvements are, first, to provide substantial termini for the road; second, to afford facilities for maintaining a proper tension of the track-wires; third, to procure means for supporting the track-wires or tramway at points intermediate between the main supports, and, fourth, to insure the adhesion of the car to the track and prevent its swaying While in transit. These objects I attain, as will be explained in detail further below, by building an endless track composed of a double row of separately-anchored and closely-abutted sections united by semicircular bands and supported from posts or uprights by brackets, and an under track which serves both as a support for the main track and a guide for the car.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view presenting a general outline of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a like view of a modification thereof.

The same parts are designated by the same letters of reference in both views.

A A are the end posts or pillars,which may be made of wood, iron, or any other suitable material.

B B represent intermediate posts or uprights, the number of which depends both on the length of the line and the nature of the loads to be carried thereover. From each of the uprights or posts A A project brackets (J O, to which are secured semicircular bars or bands of wood or metal D D, which stand out at the ends of the track-that is to say, at the points where the track makes the turn back and which are called the termini.

The track or road proper consists of different sections of wire E E, stretched over brackets F, secured to the line of posts on both sides thereof. Both ends of the wires are brought down and firmly anchored to the ground, as at a Z), so that each wire, taken in connection with its supports, constitutes a different section of the track, As many sections are provided as may found convenient and their length is regulated according to the exigencies of each case, a section being made to include several posts or merely to fill the space intervening between each upright at option. All the sections, whatever their length may be, are closely joined, so as to form, practically, a continuous track,which is done, preferably, by passing the ends of the adjacent Wires over the same brackets, as shown at Fig. 1. The end wires are besides passed around the upper outer edge of the bands D D, where they rest on lugs or studs (l cl, or in grooves, if preferred.

The brackets F, above referred to, consist of a central arm or rod projecting horizontally from the posts and of a cross-arm perpendicular to the first one and ended by clips of thin metal f f which may be either riveted to the cross-arm or formed integral therewith. The wiresE E are drawn through the clips f G represents a secondary track or way consisting of one or more wires laid below and following the double line of wires E E; The track G is supported substantially in the same way as the track E E, passing through the clips f of the brackets F and around the lower outer edge of the bands D D over studs (Z d When composed of diiferent sections of wire, their ends may also be brought down to anchorage, if it be deemed best. .Besides the common supports above enumerated the upper and lower track are braced to each other by ties H, provided at various intervals between the posts A A B B. They are thus prevented from sagging at points between the main supports. The ties H are similar to the cross-arms of the brackets F, consisting of a central stem terminated by clips of thin metal h h',through which the upper and lower wires are drawn.

I is the car or carriage, which is provided with grooved wheels i 1, adapted to travel over the wires E E, and which is pulled along the upper track by means of a link J, secured to a traveling cable K. This cable is passed around grip-pulleys L L, mounted on top of the end posts A A, and is driven by any suitable motor. A hook M projects downward from the car I and is made to embrace loosely the lower track G, so that the carriage may be steadied and guided and prevented from jumping off the upper track or swaying while in motion. From the hook M ordinarily depends a bucket N, which is used to carry freight of any sort; but a box, platform, or any other convenient vehicle may be substituted therefor. The track-wires, it will be understood, are anchored far enough back not to be in the way of the carand its accessories. The car may be loaded and unloaded at any point along the road.

Fig. 2 represents a slight modification of my invention, such as may be found very serviceable at times. The end posts, semicircular bands, grip-pulleys, intermediate uprights, upper and lower tracks,brackets, and

tiesin fact, all the elements above doscribed-are used here also; but there is some difference in their construction and arrangement. The upper track is anchored in a novel manner, the ends of the adjoining sections beingbrought down from separate brackets, thus leaving aps between them. These spaces are, however, of inappreciable width and are easily traversed by the carriage. The ties and brackets also are altered in shape, being curved, as illustrated, in the main portion and provided with upwardly-projecting clips for both the upper and lower tracks. Thus constructed they permit the use of a clamp or grip attachment M, somewhat (lifferent from the hook M, and which embraces the under track from above. Enough space is left between the jaws of this grip to allow it to ride freely over the track G; but the latter is sufficiently grasped thereby to guide and steady the car on the upper track. As to the mode of operation, it is precisely the same whether the road be built and equipped as in Fig. 1 or as in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that my improved tramway or wireway possesses many advantages not to be found in other constructions of the same type. The joining of the upper track and the supporting-Way with the semicircular bands, for instance, affords more complete and substantial termini than are usually met with. The separate anchorage of the track-sections insures perfect control over the tension of the track-wires, which, though independent, present a substantially continuous road, over which the carriage travels as smoothly as it over a single wire. The line is all the firmer for having more places where to tighten the wires, and it is easier to keep it in good con dition on this account. The ties which I have provided materially help in this respect by consolidating the tracks at points intermediate between the main supports. The hook M or clamp M are also very useful in that they effectually prevent the displacement of the car by causing it to follow both the main track and the supporting-way, thereby securing for it an even and steady motion.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an elevated track, tramway, or wireway, the combination of a single line of posts, brackets F, projecting from each side thereof, semicircular bands D D about the end posts, and wires or ways held by said brackets and bands, substantially as set forth.

2. The track or Wire supporting bracket F, consisting of a horizontal arm, a cross-arm perpendicular thereto, and clips f'f at the ends of said cross-arm, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in an elevated track, tramway, or wireway, of a line of posts, pillars, or uprights, semicircular bands at the ends of said line, brackets laterally projecting from the intermediate posts, a wire or way supported on the upper ends of said brackets and around the upper outer edge of said bands, an under wire or way supported on the lower ends of said brackets and around the lower outer edge of said bands, and ties to unite both said wires or ways at points between said posts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVM. P. lV-ALLING. 

